Principle
It’s very important to be precise with the terminology and expressions we use. Without clear definitions and precise terminology, the result is misunderstandings and possibly endless arguments that cannot converge simply because people are using the same word with different meanings.
This page reviews several terms relevant for this website and explains why they are imprecise in common public discourse. For this reason, they are to be avoided altogether, or used in very specific contexts as part of a broader and more precise term.
Terms
Freedom
The value of “freedom” (or “liberty”) appears, for example, in the national motto of France: “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”). It originates from the French Revolution, which sought to liberate the population from the oppressive regime of the monarchy. But what does “freedom” actually mean?
This term is not precise enough. It may be misinterpreted to mean: freedom to do whatever you feel like while disregarding the wellbeing, freedom, and rights of others, or as “lawlessness.” This is not the positive intent behind the term.
Therefore, to prevent a misunderstanding, on this website we use the term “freedom of choice without coercion”, or simply “freedom of choice” or “Live and let live”. In other words, we value respecting the independence, autonomy, and choices of others. This is a corollary of respecting people’s personal sovereignty.
Equality
The value of “equality” is the second in the French motto mentioned above. It also stems from the French Revolution which aimed to abolish the extra privileges of the monarchy and nobility that came at the expense of the rest of the population, and to establish equal rights and duties for all citizens.
Equality before the law is a worthy value, as it considers all citizens to have equal status, having the same civil rights and protections in the law.
However, the problem with the term “equality” is that it has also been misinterpreted in a harmful way as “equality of outcome”, and was part of the ideological foundation of communist regimes. These regimes opposed the idea that some individuals could possess more property than others, and they used oppressive and brutal methods to pursue that goal (about 100 million people were tortured and murdered by such regimes). These methods are the complete opposite of our values that support Wellbeing.
Therefore, to prevent a misunderstanding, on this website we use the following expressions instead:
- “Equality before the law” instead of just “equality”
- “Fairness”, and in particular: opposition to discrimination based on group identity — such as racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. This is a corollary of respecting people’s personal sovereignty.
Justice
[To be completed. It may imply vengeance, retribution, punishment. Instead, we use “fairness” and “equality before the law”. And also legal rights (as part of civil rights) including the rights of the accused such as the right to a fair trial, due process, the right to seek redress or a legal remedy]
Unity
[To be completed – including the problem with “uniformity” and coercion of “togetherness” and conformity. Instead, may use “(willful) collaboration”]
Human Rights
See: Why the Term “Human Rights” Is Problematic.
Liberalism
[To be completed – partial overlap with our value system, nuances, subtypes, criticisms. Also the usurping of the term “liberal” in US politics to mean something completely different (left-wing politics)]
Pluralism
[To be completed – the problem of excessive multiculturalism that enables separatism and subcultures with values opposed to liberalism and human rights]
Morality
[To be completed – a value system that exists within a specific society or culture, versus “ethics” and “Wellbeing-based values”]
Democracy
[To be completed – “rule of the majority” versus “substantive/liberal democracy” that ensures human rights and minority rights]
Capitalism and Socialism
See discussion here.
Humanism
Humanism is a philosophical approach that views humans as born with free will, reason, conscience, and the ability to evaluate and weigh ethical alternatives. It does not rely on religious beliefs or a particular culture as the basis for morality. Humanism’s view is that the ability for ethical behavior may be obscured in people raised in environments that incite them against universal conscience values (e.g. by promoting racism).
Humanism places the value of every human being as an end in itself, and never as a means to achieve a “higher purpose”, whether religious or ideological. It promotes respect for all human beings, with consideration, toleration, and support for human rights. It also promotes critical thinking, rational and systematic reasoning, and opposes dogmatic thinking and superstition.
While there is overlap between the values of humanism and our value system, the term “humanism” itself is problematic. The term was originally meant to signify that the value of a human being, and hence their wellbeing, is universal and is more important than any specific religious belief. That is, when there’s a conflict between the two, human value should override religious tradition. However, today, even among humanists, there are objections to this term for various reasons:
- Ecologists object: Humanity is not the measure of all things. The term “humanism” may imply human superiority over nature (“man is the crown of creation”) and therefore human “right” to dominate nature. In the ecologists’ view, the anthropocentric view must be replaced with an ecocentric approach, given our current understanding of our interconnectedness with the ecological system.
- Vegans object: Humanism represents a kind of speciesism — prioritizing the rights and wellbeing of humans while ignoring those of animals.
- Spiritual people object: There are important things in existence beyond humans. Humans are not the measure of all things.
Moreover, even within humanism itself, there are varying definitions, as it is a complex worldview containing many values.
Therefore, in our value system, we included specific values such as personal sovereignty, fairness, and truth-seeking, rather than using the overarching term “humanism”.